Tubular knit fabric singeing machine



Feb; 24, 1942. HANES 2,274,600-

TUBULAR KNIT FABRIC SINGEING MACHINE Flled March 12 1941 s Sheets-Sheet1 Spencer 5. Holmes m @6401 Feb. 24, 1942.

s. B. HANES TUBULAR KNIT FABRIC SINGEINGr MACHINE I5 Sheets-Sheet 2.Filed March 12, 1941 Feb. 24, 1942. s HANES 2,274,600

TUBULAR KNIT FABRIC SINGEING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet5 Patented Feb. 2 4, 1942 umreo STATES PATENT o FICEQ v .Z.,2'74,60i'lTUBULAR KNL'i'X FABRIC SINGEING CHINE Spencer Booe Hanes,Winston-Salem,'N. 0., assignor to P. H. 'Hanes Knitting Company,Winston-Salem, N. 0., a corporation of North Carolina Application March12, 1941,- Serial No. 383,020

, pipe, the fabric passesover a cuff 8 which supports the converging orreceiving end 9 of a 22 Claims.

chine of the character statedembodying' novel means for spreading thetubular fabric at the position of the flame so that the flame willeffectively reach and singe the interstices in. the fabric loops andwales.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a machine of the characterstated inwhich; is

I included novel means for centering lthe qflame source with relation tothe traveling :fabric.

Another object of the invention is to' p-rovide a machine of thecharacter stated-inwhich is included a flame shield insertable.betweenwthe flame source and the fabric whenever'thewmachine is broughtto rest and automatically withdrawable from its fabric shieldingpositioneach time the machine is set into motion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the characterstated including novel means for eliminating fire hazard and including afire quenching spray and a set of combined fire snufflng and fabricdrawing rolls.

With the above and other objects in view which will more fully appear,the nature of the'invention will be more clearly understood by followingthe description, the appended claims, and the several views illustratedin the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view. I Figure 3 is a verticalcross-sectiontaken onthe line 3-3 on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken through the axis of the shiftableshieldsleeve.

cylindrical wire skeleton spreader frame II] which is surrounded by acircular gas burner II.

The jet apertures l2 in the circular burner II are directed inwardlyandreardwardly at, an

angle with respect to the direction of feeding movement of the fabric.The jet apertures are so positioned because the forwardly moving knitted"fabriccarries an air current with it in ;the direction of travel.thereof, and directing the flame jets slightly counter to the directionof travel of the fabric this air current causes the flame jets to becomesubstantially perpendicular to the center of the burner, thereby to moreefficiently contact and singe vthe traveling fabric. By reason of theprovision of the skeleton spreader 9, III, the greatest possible spreadof the tubular knitted fabric is attained at the point at which thesingeing flame comes into contact with it so that-the flame Willblow-inc the fabric in such a manner as to get to the bottoms of theinterstices or crevices or the lowermost points of the wales or loops insuch fabric. The circular burner .II is supported on arm extensions I3terminating in supporting feet I4 which are longitudinally slotted, asat IE, to =receive zupstanding guide pins I6. The pins project upwardlyfrom side frame brackets ll supported, as at I8, on verticallyadjustable blocks I9. -The bracket-IT at one side has an extensionIO-equipped with a threaded bore in which an adjusting hand screw 2| isoperable. ,end of thisscrew is held captive in the adjacent burner ringsupporting foot I4 and it will be The free obvious that by manipulatingthe'hand screw 2| a measure of lateral adjustment of the position of theburner ring can beeifected so as to perfectly center, the same withrespect to the traveling fabric.

. Gas is supplied to the burner ring I I .through a gas supply pipe22controlled by a valve 23, and

-. air is supplied through a pipe 24 equipped with a Figure 5 is afragmentary plan View showing a fragment of tubular knitted fabricstretched over the skeleton spreader frame. I

In the example of embodiment of the invention herein somewhatdiagrammatically illustrated, the tubular knit fabric 5 is introducedinto themachine over a pipe or turning'head 6 between opposedfeedrolls 1. In passing fromthe controlvalve 25, both pipes 22 and 24delivering into a,supply or mixing manifold 26 which preferably is..disposed vertically and-connects with .the burner ring 'II in themanner best illustrated in'Figures 1 and3 of the drawings.

In order to provide for vertical adjustment of ,the burner ring I I soas to suitably align it with j the traveling fabric, the side blocks I9are vertically-adjustably mounted on frame standards 21, and avertically disposed captive screw 28 threads through a-bore in eachblock' I9 and is "connected by abevel gear. couple-29 with a cross shafthaving hearing, as at 3 I, in the standards 2'! and equipped with a handwheel 32. It will be obvious that by turning the hand wheel and rotatingthe screw 28, upward or downward movement can be imparted to the blocksl9 and the burner ring H supported thereby.

In order to prevent burning of the tubular fabric should operation ofthe machine be discontinued while the ring burner II is functioning,there is provided a flame shielding sleeve 33 which is shiftable intoand out of shielding position within the burner ring. The sleeve 33 hasits ends flared, as at 34, and is equipped with an The sleeve islongi--;

asbestos covering band 35. tudinally-slidably mounted-as at 36, and hasslot and pin connection at 31 with a shifter lever 38 pivotally mounted,as at 39, upon one of the side frame brackets I1. It will be obviousthat by manipulating the lever 38 the sleeve can be moved betweeneffective and ineffective positions tion of the machine by sponge rubberdraw rolls 40 which are rotatably supported in bearings 4| on asupporting frame 62 which also supports a motor 43, the drive shaft ofwhich is connected by pulley and belt connections 44 with a driver shaft45 also rotatably supported on the frame and in turn connected byadjustable belt and pulley connections 46 with one of the draw rolls 40.

A clutch equipment 4? is provided on the drive shaft 45 and is subjectto manipulation by a shifting lever 48 pivoted, as at 49, on the machineframe and link-connected, as at '59, with the shield sleeve. shiftinglever 38 hereinbefore referred to. By reason of these connections, eachtime the clutch is shifted to discontinue operation of the machine, theshifter lever 33 will be moved to effect a shifting of the shield sleevefrom the ineffective position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 2,to the effective or flame shielding position illustrated in full linesin Figure 2.

Just in advance of the draw rolls 40, the singed fabric passes betweenspaced guides 5| mounted on a reversely threaded guide adjusting screw52 which is rotatable in suitable bearings 53 supported on the machineframing. The screw is equipped with a hand wheel 54, and by turning thishand Wheel the spaced relation of the guides 5| can be altered at will.

It will be obvious that by provision of the shiftable shield sleeve 33,destructive burning of the fabric incident to machine stoppage isavoided, and means are provided for additionally guarding against firehazard. For this purpose upper and lower steam spray pipes 55 areprovided just in advance of the draw rolls t0, and the singed fabricpasses between these pipes and is subjected to steam spray which willextinguish any smoldering fabric portion. The fire hazard isadditionally guarded against by provision of the draw rolls 4!] whichhave a snuffing effect which will augment the smolder extinguishingeffect of the spray pipes. Steam is supplied to the pipes 55 through asupply pipe 56 equipped with a control valve 51, and a collecting trough58 is pro vided beneath the pipes for collecting condensadelivery rotor59, the singed fabric falls into a collecting basket or truck 52.

In the foregoing description, there is disclosed a machine or apparatuscapable of efiiciently singeing constantly traveling tubular fabrics. Inthis machine, the fabrics are spread so that a very efficient singeingis assured, and means are provided for practically eliminating firehazard.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure andarrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope'of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, means circular in transverse sectionand effective for spreading the traveling fabric to lay open the knitmesh thereof, and a circular gas burner disposed concentrically withrespect to the axis of the spreading means for directing open flame intothe spread mesh of said traveling fabric.

2. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, means for spreading the travelingfabric to lay open the knit mesh thereof, a circular gas burner fordirecting open flame into the spread mesh of said traveling fabric, andmeans for adjusting the burner vertically and horizontally to place itscenter with relation to the center of the traveling fabric.

3. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, means for spreading the travelingfabric to lay open the knit mesh thereof, and a circular gas burner fordirecting open flame into the spread mesh of said traveling fabric, saidburner having flame jet emitting orifices therein directed inwardlytoward the traveling fabric and augularly in a direction opposite thedirection in which said fabric is traveling.

4. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, means for spreading the travelingfabric to lay open the knit mesh thereof, means for singeing thetraveling fabric at the place at which it is spread, and meansautomatically operable to shield the fabric from the singeing means eachtime operation of the fabric feeding means is discontinued.

v5. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, means for spreading the travelingfabric to lay open the knit mesh thereof, a circular gas burner fordirecting open flame into the spread mesh of said travelingfabric, and aflame shielding sleeve surrounding the traveling fabric andautomatically shiftable into position for shielding the fabric fromburner flame each time operation of the fabric feeding means isdiscontinued.

6. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, a circular gas-burner for directingopen flame into-the mesh of *said traveling fabric, a flameshielding-sleeve surrounding the traveling fabricgand means, forshiftingthe sleeveL longitudinally, toselectively;position it between 1 thefabricand thelgburner in -fabric shielding position orawayfromsaidburner to exposethe .fabric: to

flame emitted from the burner.

7. In a machine of the character. described,

means for continuousl-y'feeding a-tubular knitted I fabric, acirculargas: burner for, directing, open fiameinto themeshgof tsaid travelingfabric, and a flame shielding sleeve surrounding the traveling fabricand automatically shiftable into position for shielding the fabric fromburner flame each time operation of the fabric feeding means isdiscontinued.

8; In a machine of the-character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, means for spreading the travelingfabric to lay open the knit mesh thereof, and means for singeing thetraveling fabric at the place at which it is spread, said spreadingmeans comprising a skeleton frame composed of circumferentially spacedlongitudinal rods and including a. tapered receiving nose portion.

9. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, means for spreading the travelingfabric to lay open the knit mesh thereof, and means for singeing thetraveling fabric at the place at which it is spread, said feeding meansincluding draw rolls disposed beyond the spreading means and effectiveto snuff out fabric smolder.

10. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, means for spreading the travelingfabric I ,to lay open the knit mesh thereof, means for travel; guides"disposed. adj acent. lsaid rolls and means for varying the. spacingofsaidguidessingeing the travelingzfabric at 'the placecat which it, isspread, said. feeding "means including draw;

rolls disposed beyondthe- 'spreading meansand effective to snuff outfabric smolder, a drag rotor disposed beyond the draw rolls and overwhich the fabric passes, and a shield for supporting singeing thetraveling fabric at the place at which 4 it is spread, and spray meansdisposed beyond the spreading means and effective to extinguish fabricsmolder.

11. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding'a tubular knitted fabric, means for spreading the travelingfabric to lay open the knit mesh thereof, means for singeing thetraveling fabric at the place at which it is spread, said feeding meansincluding draw rolls disposed beyond the spreading means and effectiveto snuff out fabric smolder, and spray means disposed adjacent saidrolls and efiective to extinguish fabric smolder.

12. In a machine of the character described,

means for continuously feeding a tubular knitted fabric, a circular gasburner for directingopen flame into the mesh of said traveling fabric, a

flame shielding sleeve surrounding the traveling fabric, means forshifting the sleeve longitudinally to selectively position it betwenthefabric and the burner in fabric shielding position or away from saidburner to expose the fabric to flame emitted from the burner, saidfeeding means including draw rolls, power means for driving said rolls,clutch means shiftable for starting or stopping operation of said rolls,and means actuated each time said clutch means is shifted for movingsaid sleeve shifting means to effectively place or displace the sleeveaccordingly as said rolls are stopped or started.

13. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, means for spreading the travelingfabric to lay open the knit mesh thereof, means for singeing thetraveling fabric at the place at which it is spread, said feeding meansincluding draw rolls disposed beyond the spreading means and effectiveto snuff out fabric smolder, spaced fabric fabric slack betweenn therolls and said rotor.

15. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, a skeleton spreader frame forspreading the traveling fabric in tubular form to lay open the knit meshthereof, and means uniformly spaced from the traveling fabric at allpoints in a plane extending transversely across said fabric where it isspread in tubular form for singeing the laid open knit mesh of saidfabric.

16. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, a skeleton spreader frame generallycircular in transverse section and along and over which said fabric isfed for being spread so that its knit meshwill be laid open, and meansdisposed in uniformly spaced relationto all spread mesh portions of thetraveling fabric throughout its circumference for directing open flamethrough said spread mesh portions for singeing the same.

17. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, rigidly mounted means circular intransverse section and effective for spreading the traveling fabric tolay open the knit mesh therof, and a circular gas burner disposedconcentrically with respect to the axis of and surrounding the spreadingmeans for directing open flame into the spread mesh of said travelingfabric.

18. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, stationarily supported means forspreading the traveling fabric to lay open the knit mesh thereof,-acircular gas burner surrounding the spreading means for directing openflame into the spread mesh of said traveling fabric, and means foradjusting the burner vertically and horizontally to place its centerwith relation to the center of the traveling fabric.

19. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, skeleton frame means for spreading thetraveling fabric to lay open the knit mesh thereof, and a circular gasburner surrounding said skeleton frame means for directing open flameinto the spreadmesh of said traveling fabric, said burner having flamejet emitting orifices therein directed inwardly toward the travelingfabric and angularly in a direction opposite the direction in which saidfabric is traveling.

20. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, skeleton frame means for spreading thetraveling fabric to lay open the knit mesh thereof, and means disposedabout said skeleton frame means for singeing the traveling fabric at theplace at which it is spread, said feeding means including draw rollsdisposed beyond the spreading means and effective to snuff out fabricsmolder.

21. In a machine of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, skeleton frame means for spreading thetraveling fabric to lay open the knit mesh thereof, means for singeingthe traveling fabric at the place at which it is spread, and spray meansdisposed immediately beyond the spreading means and efiective toextinguish fabric smolder.

22. In a machine. of the character described, means for continuouslyfeeding a tubular knitted fabric, skeleton frame means for spreading thetraveling fabric to lay oi en the knit mesh thereof, means for singeingthe traveling fabric at the place at which it is spread, said feedingmeans including draw rolls disposed beyond the spreading means andeffective to snuff out fabric smolder, and spray means disposed adjacentsaid rolls and immediately beyond said skeleton frame means andeffective to extinguish fabric smolder.

SPENCER BOOE HANES.

